Barcodes with security material and readers for same

Abstract

A secure indicator includes a substrate, a barcode symbol that has a plurality of barcode modules provided on the substrate, and a security material positioned proximate the barcode symbol on the substrate. The security material is configured to be activated by irradiation at one or more predetermined activation wavelengths. Additionally, the barcode symbol is configured to be read (i) before the security material is activated and (ii) while the security material is activated.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A method of scanning a dataform comprising a barcode symbol and a security material configured to be activated by irradiation at one or more predetermined activation wavelengths, and wherein the barcode symbol is configured to be read (i) before the security material activated and (ii) while the security material activated, the method comprising:
 receiving light from the dataform during a time period; 
 capturing at least one image from the received light; 
 analyzing one of the at least one image to decode data from the barcode symbol; 
 analyzing one of the at least one image to detect emission light from the security material within the received light; 
 associating a characteristic of the dataform with the detected emission light; and 
 outputting the associated characteristic with the decoded data. 
 
     
     
       2. A secure indicator scanner comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory coupled to the processor; and 
 an optical input device coupled to the processor, the processor configured to:
 cause the optical input device to capture an image of a field of view, the field of view including a secure indicator including a barcode symbol and a security portion, 
 store the image in the memory, 
 process the image to identify the barcode symbol within the captured image, 
 analyze the barcode symbol to determine or identify elements of the barcode symbol, 
 process the image to identify a security portion and a reference region within the image, 
 determine an optical property associated with the security portion through a comparison with the reference region, 
 decode barcode data from the identified barcode symbol, 
 associate the barcode data with the determined optical property of the security portion, and 
 output the associated data. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The scanner of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause an irradiation module to illuminate the secure indicator for at least a first time interval having a first duration. 
     
     
       4. The scanner of  claim 3 , wherein the irradiation module illuminates the secure indicator at an excitation wavelength of the security material for the first time interval thereby causing the security material to luminesce. 
     
     
       5. The scanner of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the irradiation module to cease excitation. 
     
     
       6. The scanner of  claim 5 , wherein capturing the image of the field of view includes capturing at least one first image of the field of view at a first time after the first time interval and at least one second image of the field of view at a second time after the first time. 
     
     
       7. The scanner of  claim 6 , wherein determining the optical property includes comparing the at least one second image to the at least one first image. 
     
     
       8. The scanner of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one first image is associated with an initial optical property and the at least one second image is associated with a subsequent optical property. 
     
     
       9. The scanner of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 compare the initial optical property to the subsequent optical property, and 
 determine one of a rate of increase, a rate of decrease, a rate of decay, an increase, a decrease, or a presence of decay between the initial optical property and the subsequent optical property. 
 
     
     
       10. The scanner of  claim 9 , wherein determining the optical property of security portion includes at least one of:
 comparing an initial optical property to a subsequent optical property, 
 comparing the optical property to a threshold value, and 
 determining one of a rate of increase, a rate of decrease, a rate of decay, an increase, a decrease, or a presence of decay of the optical property. 
 
     
     
       11. The scanner of  claim 2 , wherein the optical property includes at least one of an initial optical property and a subsequent optical property associated with the security portion, and wherein the at least one of the initial optical property and the subsequent optical property is determined based at least partially on data decoded from the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       12. The scanner of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to compare the optical property of the security portion to the decoded barcode data. 
     
     
       13. The scanner of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the optical property of the security portion after decoding the barcode data. 
     
     
       14. The scanner of  claim 13 , wherein the decoded barcode data provides information related to at least one of the security portion and the reference region. 
     
     
       15. A secure indicator, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a barcode symbol having a plurality of barcode elements provided on the substrate; 
 a security material positioned proximate the barcode symbol on the substrate; 
 a reference material positioned in or adjacent to the barcode symbol, wherein the reference material is configured to provide a reference threshold value for the security material; 
 wherein the security material is configured to be activated by irradiation at one or more predetermined activation wavelengths; and 
 wherein the barcode symbol is configured to be read (i) before the security material is activated and (ii) while the security material is activated. 
 
     
     
       16. The secure indicator of  claim 15 , wherein the reference material is located adjacent to the barcode. 
     
     
       17. The secure indicator of  claim 15 , wherein the reference material is positioned within an invariant area of the barcode. 
     
     
       18. The secure indicator of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of barcode elements are printed in the reference material. 
     
     
       19. A secure indicator, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a barcode symbol having a plurality of barcode elements provided on the substrate; 
 a security material positioned proximate the barcode symbol on the substrate; 
 wherein the security material is configured to be activated by irradiation at one or more predetermined activation wavelengths; 
 wherein the barcode symbol is configured to be read (i) before the security material is activated and (ii) while the security material is activated; and 
 wherein the barcode symbol encodes data configured to be used in locating, reading, determining the state of, interpreting, or evaluating a security portion containing the security material. 
 
     
     
       20. The secure indicator of  claim 19 , wherein the barcode symbol includes at least one encoded data identifier and wherein the at least one encoded data identifier includes a first data identifier that indicates at least one of a time, a rate, a threshold, a type of luminescent present, a state, or an expected rate of decrease associated with the security material's luminescence. 
     
     
       21. The secure indicator of  claim 20 , wherein the barcode symbol includes a second encoded data identifier, the second encoded data identifier indicating at least one of size and location of the security material. 
     
     
       22. The secure indicator of  claim 20 , wherein the rate of decrease is a constant rate. 
     
     
       23. The secure indicator of  claim 20 , wherein the rate of decrease is a variable rate.